Mukesh Ambani SUV Case

Meanwhile ATS, Mumbai made hectic efforts on Friday to seek remand of Vaze, ostensibly to prevent the accused from being grilled further by the Central agency. Vaze is in NIA's custody till March 25. Sources in the NIA said that Vaze is not cooperating with the agency regarding the motive and planning of deep-rooted conspiracy which shook the corporate fraternity.

Explaining the motive behind planting an explosive-laden SUV near top industrialist Mukesh Ambani's multi-storey residence in Mumbai, BJP leader and legislator Ram Kadam, who initially raised the issue, said that Sachin Vaze was reporting directly to the Shiv Sena leadership.

"Several Shiv Sena ministers in my government requested me to reinstate Vaze. Even Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had called me, asking me to reinstate Vaze," Fadnavis said. Fadnavis demanded that a proper investigation be done to find out who the all-powerful people in the government allegedly "operating Vaze" were.

Shortly after taking over, Nagrale said it would be inappropriate to comment on the "under investigations cases" but assured that he would make all efforts to improve the image of the Mumbai Police. Senior IPS officer Rajnish Sheth has been entrusted additional responsibility as the DGP, while Param Bir Singh will be posted as DGP, Home Guards.

The suspension order was issued by the Mumbai Police headquarters, a day after Vaze was sent to the custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA) till March 25. An officer of the 1990-batch of the Maharashtra Police cadre, Vaze, 49, had earlier been suspended for his role in the custodial death of Khawaja Yunus, a suspect in the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast case.

Assistant Police Inspector (API) Sachin Vaze, seen close to the top leadership of Shiv Sena, has been in touch with "powerful" persons during the period he hatched a conspiracy to plant a gelatin sticks-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai, sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said.

Vaze, 49, has been booked by the NIA in connection with the SUV and he is also being simultaneously probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad for the mystery death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiren - two cases which sparked off a nationwide political furore.

The Maharashtra Assembly witnessed an uproar after it emerged that Vimla Hiren had lodged an FIR with the Kalachowki police station on March 7, in which she has stated, "I suspect (API) Vaze must have murdered my husband", and demanded an investigation.